Charging system and charging method

ABSTRACT

A charging system, comprising: a charging apparatus; and at least one guiding apparatus, comprising at least one light emitting device provided in at least one target apparatus. The charging apparatus moves to a charging location according a light emitting state of the light emitting device, to charge the target apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a charging system and a chargingmethod, and particularly relates to a charging system and a chargingmethod which can automatically charge.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Recently, a vehicle which applies electric power, for example, anelectric motorcycle or an electric car, is more and more popular. Suchvehicle should be moved to a particular position if it is to be charged.Alternatively, a charging apparatus should be provided to each position.However, such charging method is not convenient for the user. Also, thecharging apparatus increases the cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to provide acharging system which can automatically charge a target apparatus.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a chargingmethod which can control the charging apparatus to automatically chargea target apparatus.

One embodiment of the present invention discloses: a charging system,comprising: a charging apparatus; and at least one guiding apparatus,comprising at least one light emitting device provided in at least onetarget apparatus. The charging apparatus moves to a charging locationaccording a light emitting state of the light emitting device, to chargethe target apparatus.

Another embodiment of the present invention discloses: a chargingsystem, comprising: a charging apparatus, comprising at least one lightemitting device; and

a guiding apparatus, provided in at least one target apparatus. Theguiding apparatus moves the charging apparatus to the charging locationaccording to a light emitting state of the light emitting device, tocharge the target apparatus.

Corresponding charging methods can be acquired based on above-mentionedembodiments. Details for the charging methods are omitted for brevityhere.

In view of above-mentioned embodiments, the charging apparatus canautomatically charge the target apparatus, and firstly charges thetarget apparatus having low battery power. The inconvenience forcharging a vehicle applying electric power can be improved.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt becomeobvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment that isillustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a charging system accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2-6 are schematic diagrams illustrating operations for chargingsystems according to embodiments of the present application.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a guiding apparatus accordingto one embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a charging system accordingto another embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In following descriptions, several embodiments are provided to explaincontents of the present application. Please note, the devices orapparatuses illustrated in following descriptions can be implemented byhardware (ex. circuit or machine), or hardware with software (ex.writing programs to a processor). For example, the operation of acharging apparatus described below can be controlled by a processorprovided therein. Additionally, in following embodiments, a car isapplied as an example for explaining. However, the car can be replacedby other apparatuses which need to be charged. Furthermore, two lightemitting devices are applied as examples for explaining, but the numberfor the light emitting devices can be other values.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a charging system accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a plurality ofcars C_1, C_2, C_3 and C_4 which are parking are illustrated. Infollowing embodiments, only the car C_1 is applied as an example forexplaining. However, cars C_2, C_3, C_4 can apply the same mechanisms. Aguiding apparatus 101 is provided under the car C_1, which compriseslight emitting devices L_1, L_2. The charging apparatus 100 moves to acharging location according a light emitting state of the light emittingdevices L_1, L_2, to charge the car C_1. In following descriptions,different embodiments are provided to describe how the chargingapparatus 100 charges the car C_1 according to a light emitting state oflight emitting devices L_1, L_2.

FIGS. 2-6 are schematic diagrams illustrating operations for chargingsystems according to embodiments of the present application. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, in one embodiment, the charging apparatus 100comprises a front camera R_1 and an upper camera R_2. The step that thecharging apparatus 100 moves to a charging location according a lightemitting state of the light emitting device L_1, L_2 comprises: thecharging apparatus 100 moves to a temporary location according tolocations of the light emitting devices L_1, L_2 via the front cameraR_1 (as shown in FIG. 2); and the charging apparatus 100 moves from thetemporary location to the charging location according to a lightemitting pattern of the light emitting devices L_1, L_2 via the uppercamera R_2 (as shown in FIG. 3). The light emitting pattern for lightemitting devices L_1, L_2 can comprise at least one for following kindsof information: the arrangement of light emitting devices, the shape orthe light emitting frequency of the light emitting device itself.

For more detail, the charging apparatus 100 determines a rough locationof the light emitting devices L_1, L_2 according to a location for lightfrom light emitting devices L_1, L_2, and moves to this rough locationas a temporary location. After that, the temporary location is adjustedto acquire the charging location, according to the arrangement of lightemitting devices, the shape or the light emitting frequency of the lightemitting device itself, via the upper camera R_2. In one embodiment, thetemporary location is not adjusted but directly applied as the charginglocation. In other words, this embodiment determines if the chargingapparatus is at a proper location for charging according to locationimages for light emitting devices L_1, L_2 captured by the upper cameraR_2.

Additionally, in one embodiment, the charging apparatus 100 furtherdetermines a battery power of the car according to a light emittingpattern of the light emitting devices L_1, L_2. As illustrated in FIG.4, the car C_1 has sufficient battery power if the light emittingfrequencies for light emitting devices L_1, L_2 are high, which can meancontinuously emitting light. On the opposite, the car C_1 has lowbattery power if the light emitting frequencies for light emittingdevices L_1, L_2 are low. Please note, FIG. 4 is only for example anddoes not mean to limit the light emitting pattern to the exampleillustrated in FIG. 4.

The light emitting pattern for a light emitting device can be applied totransmit information besides battery power. In one embodiment, the lightemitting pattern is applied as identification information of the car.Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, in FIG. 5 the light emitting patternfor light emitting devices in the car C_1 is: continuous three times ofshort period light emitting, and then continuous three times of shortperiod light emitting. Also, the light emitting pattern for lightemitting devices in the car C_2 is: a long period light emitting, stopfor a while, and then a long period light emitting again. Besides, thelight emitting pattern for light emitting devices in the car C_3 is: thelong period light emitting and the short period light emittingalternatively occur. By this way, the charging apparatus 100 canaccurately determine which car should be charged. Please note, asabove-mentioned, the light emitting pattern can indicate the arrangementfor light emitting devices, or the shape for the light emitting deviceitself. The charging apparatus 100 can determine which car should becharged according to these parameters as well.

In one embodiment, the charging apparatus can acquire battery powerinformation by method besides the light emitting pattern. For example,the charging apparatus can receive battery power information oridentification information from the car via wireless communication sucha RF (radio frequency).

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the charging apparatusfirstly charges a car with lower batter power. As illustrated in FIG. 6,the charging apparatus firstly charges a car with lower batter powerafter receives the battery power information according to a lightemitting pattern of light emitting devices L_1, L_2 or other methods. Bythis way, the car with lower batter power can have a higher priority forcharging, such that each car can have a necessary battery and operatesmoothly.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a guiding apparatus accordingto one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 7,the guiding apparatus 700 comprises a cover 701, which is in a closestate if the car is in a normal mode (ex. the car is activated). By thisway, light emitting devices L_1, L_2 or other devices for the guidingapparatus 701 such as a light emitting device controller will not bepolluted by dust or dirty water. On the contrary, the cover 701 is in anopen state if the car is in a to-be-charged mode (ex. in a non-activatedstate), such that the charging apparatus can detect light from lightemitting devices L_1, L_2. In one embodiment, the car comprises a buttonprovided therein, which can control the cover 701 to close or open.

As above-mentioned, the car can be replaced by other electronicapparatuses. Accordingly, the embodiments in FIG. 1-FIG. 6 can besummarized as: a charging system, comprising: a charging apparatus (ex.the charging apparatus 100 in FIGS. 1-3); and at least one guidingapparatus, comprising at least one light emitting device provided in atleast one target apparatus (ex. light emitting devices L_1, L_2 in FIG.2, FIG. 3, and provided in the car C_1 in in FIGS. 1-3). The chargingapparatus moves to a charging location according a light emitting stateof the light emitting device, to charge the target apparatus.

The light emitting device it not limited to be provided in the targetapparatus, it can be provided to the charging apparatus as well. FIG. 8is a schematic diagram illustrating a charging system according toanother embodiment of the present application. As illustrated in FIG. 8,the light emitting devices L_1, L_2 are provided to the chargingapparatus 800 rather than the guiding apparatus 801 in the car C_1. Inthis embodiment, the guiding apparatus 801 moves the charging apparatus800 to the charging location according to a light emitting state of thelight emitting devices L_1, L_2, to charge the car. For more detail, theguiding apparatus determines a location of the charging apparatusaccording to locations or light emitting patterns for the light emittingdevices L_1, L_2, and accordingly moves the charging apparatus 800 to acharging location.

In such embodiment, many methods can be applied for communicationbetween the guiding apparatus and the charging apparatus 800. Forexample, the guiding apparatus can communicate with the chargingapparatus 800 via wireless communication. Also, in such embodiment, thecharging apparatus 800 can receive power information from the car viawireless communication. Also, the guiding apparatus can comprise thecover illustrated in FIG. 7.

In view of above-mentioned embodiments, the car can be replaced by otherapparatuses. Accordingly, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 can besummarized as: A charging system, comprising: a charging apparatus (ex.800), comprising at least one light emitting device; and a guidingapparatus (ex. 801), provided in at least one target apparatus. Theguiding apparatus moves the charging apparatus to the charging locationaccording to a light emitting state of the light emitting device, tocharge the target apparatus.

In view of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, a charging methodcan be acquired, which can be applied to a charging system illustratedin FIG. 1. The charging method comprises: detecting a light emittingstate of the light emitting device; and moving the charging apparatus toa charging location according a light emitting state of the lightemitting device, to charge the target apparatus.

Additionally, in view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, acharging method can be acquired, which can be applied to a chargingsystem illustrated in FIG. 8. The charging method comprises: detecting alight emitting state of the light emitting device; and moves thecharging apparatus to the charging location according to a lightemitting state of the light emitting device, to charge the targetapparatus. Detail steps for these two methods are illustrated inabove-mentioned embodiments, thus are omitted for brevity here.

In view of above-mentioned embodiments, the charging apparatus canautomatically charge the target apparatus, and firstly charges thetarget apparatus having low battery power. The inconvenience forcharging a vehicle applying electric power can be improved.

It will be appreciated that the above-mention charging can beimplemented by wireless charging. That is, if the charging apparatusmoves to a suitable location, the target apparatus can be charged by awireless method without physically touching the target apparatus.Additionally, the charging apparatus can be wiredly connected to aconstant power source such as mains electricity. In one embodiment, thecharging apparatus comprises a power source itself (ex. a battery), thusdoes not need to be wiredly connected to an outer power source.Additionally, the charging apparatus can be wirelessly charged by anouter power source. By this way, the application range for the chargingapparatus is large, and will not be jammed by wires wire moving.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerousmodifications and alterations of the device and method may be made whileretaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the abovedisclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and boundsof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A charging system, comprising: a chargingapparatus; and at least one guiding apparatus, comprising at least onelight emitting device provided in at least one target apparatus; whereinthe charging apparatus moves to a charging location according to a lightemitting state of the light emitting device, to charge the targetapparatus; wherein the charging apparatus determines a battery power ofthe target apparatus according to a light emitting pattern of the lightemitting device.
 2. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the chargingapparatus comprises a front camera and an upper camera, wherein the stepthat the charging apparatus moves to a charging location according to alight emitting state of the light emitting device comprises: moving to atemporary location according to a location of the light emitting devicevia the front camera; and moving from the temporary location to thecharging location according to a light emitting pattern of the lightemitting device via the upper camera.
 3. The charging system of claim 1,if a plurality of target apparatuses are to be charged, the chargingapparatus further charges the target apparatus with a low battery poweraccording to battery powers for the target apparatuses which are to becharged.
 4. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the chargingapparatus further determines identification information of the targetapparatus according to a light emitting pattern of the light emittingdevice.
 5. The charging system of claim 1, wherein the chargingapparatus further receives battery power information from the targetapparatus via wireless communication.
 6. The charging system of claim 1,wherein the guiding apparatus further comprises a cover, wherein thecover is in a close state if the target apparatus is in a normal mode,and the cover is in an open state if the target apparatus is in ato-be-charged mode.
 7. A charging system, comprising: a chargingapparatus, comprising at least one light emitting device; and a guidingapparatus, provided in at least one target apparatus; wherein theguiding apparatus moves the charging apparatus to the charging locationaccording to a light emitting state of the light emitting device, tocharge the target apparatus; wherein the guiding apparatus furthercomprises a cover, wherein the cover is in a close state if the targetapparatus is in a normal mode, and the cover is in an open state if thetarget apparatus is in a to-be-charged mode.
 8. The charging system ofclaim 7, wherein the charging apparatus further receives battery powerinformation from the target apparatus via wireless communication.
 9. Acharging method, applied to a charging system comprising a chargingapparatus comprising a processor and a guiding apparatus comprising atleast one light emitting device provided in at least one targetapparatus and comprising a cover, the charging method comprises: (a)detecting a light emitting state of the light emitting device by thecharging apparatus; and (b) automatically moving the charging apparatusto a charging location according to a light emitting state of the lightemitting device, to charge the target apparatus when the targetapparatus is in a to-be-charged mode; wherein the charging methodfurther comprises: automatically determining a battery power of thetarget apparatus by the charging apparatus according to a light emittingpattern of the light emitting device; wherein the cover is in a closestate if the target apparatus is in a normal mode, and the cover is inan open state if the target apparatus is in the to-be-charged mode. 10.The charging method of claim 9, wherein the charging apparatus comprisesa front camera and an upper camera, wherein the step (b) comprises:automatically moving the charging apparatus to a temporary locationaccording to a location of the light emitting device via the frontcamera; and automatically moving the charging apparatus from thetemporary location to the charging location according to a lightemitting pattern of the light emitting device via the upper camera. 11.The charging method of claim 9, further comprising: if a plurality oftarget apparatuses are in the to-be-charged mode, controlling thecharging apparatus by the processor to automatically charge the targetapparatus with a low battery power according to battery powers for thetarget apparatuses which are to be charged.
 12. The charging method ofclaim 9, further comprising: automatically determining identificationinformation of the target apparatus according to a light emittingpattern of the light emitting device by the charging apparatus.
 13. Thecharging method of claim 9, further comprising: controlling the chargingapparatus to automatically receive battery power information by theprocessor from the target apparatus via wireless communication.
 14. Acharging system, comprising: a charging apparatus; and at least oneguiding apparatus, comprising at least one light emitting deviceprovided in at least one target apparatus; wherein the chargingapparatus moves to a charging location according to a light emittingstate of the light emitting device, to charge the target apparatus;wherein the charging apparatus comprises a front camera and an uppercamera, wherein the step that the charging apparatus moves to a charginglocation according to a light emitting state of the light emittingdevice comprises: moving to a temporary location according to a locationof the light emitting device via the front camera; and moving from thetemporary location to the charging location according to a lightemitting pattern of the light emitting device via the upper camera. 15.A charging system, comprising: a charging apparatus; and at least oneguiding apparatus, comprising at least one light emitting deviceprovided in at least one target apparatus; wherein the chargingapparatus moves to a charging location according to a light emittingstate of the light emitting device, to charge the target apparatus;wherein the charging apparatus determines identification information ofthe target apparatus according to a light emitting pattern of the lightemitting device.
 16. A charging system, comprising: a chargingapparatus; and at least one guiding apparatus, comprising at least onelight emitting device provided in at least one target apparatus; whereinthe charging apparatus moves to a charging location according to a lightemitting state of the light emitting device, to charge the targetapparatus; wherein the guiding apparatus further comprises a cover,wherein the cover is in a close state if the target apparatus is in anormal mode, and the cover is in an open state if the target apparatusis in a to-be-charged mode.
 17. A charging method, applied to a chargingsystem comprising a charging apparatus and a guiding apparatuscomprising at least one light emitting device provided in at least onetarget apparatus, the charging method comprises: (a) detecting a lightemitting state of the light emitting device by the charging apparatus;and (b) automatically moving the charging apparatus to a charginglocation according to a light emitting state of the light emittingdevice, to charge the target apparatus; wherein the charging apparatuscomprises a front camera and an upper camera, wherein the step (b)comprises: automatically moving the charging apparatus to a temporarylocation according to a location of the light emitting device via thefront camera; and automatically moving the charging apparatus from thetemporary location to the charging location according to a lightemitting pattern of the light emitting device via the upper camera. 18.A charging method, applied to a charging system comprising a chargingapparatus and a guiding apparatus comprising at least one light emittingdevice provided in at least one target apparatus, the charging methodcomprises: detecting a light emitting state of the light emitting deviceby the charging apparatus; automatically moving the charging apparatusto a charging location according to a light emitting state of the lightemitting device, to charge the target apparatus; and automaticallydetermining identification information of the target apparatus accordingto a light emitting pattern of the light emitting device by the chargingapparatus.